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"They go through a lot of the same motions as if you're going up for a dunk or a layup, so it transitions really nicely," Coventry said. "When Nike Air Max Tavas 2014

Jensen competed in four events Friday the high jump, long jump, 100 meters and 4x100 relay for Snake River, which like many schools has capitalized on the abundance of talent made available by the completion of the basketball season.

JACK OF ALL TRADES: Tanner Jensencompeted in four events at Friday's Trojan Invitational the high jump, long jump, 100 meters and 4x100 relay for Snake River, which like many schools has capitalized on the abundance of talent made available by the completion of the basketball season.

Track and Field Tracker

for considerable competition in the high jump

The three jumpers account for Kelly Walsh high jump coach Bryan Coventry's top three athletes in the event, which he said has often been the case in his 20 years coaching the Trojans.

His legs still burning from completing the second leg of Snake River's 4x100 relay team, Tanner Jensen scampered toward the high jump area of Harry Geldien Stadium to clear the 6 feet, 1 inch bar on his third and final attempt, keeping pace with the rest of the field at Friday's Trojan Invitational. The senior then gathered himself, acknowledging the accomplishment for a brief moment, and trotted off to his next event.

same motions as if you're going up for a dunk or a layup, so it transitions really nicely. When I watch basketball games and see that they have hops, I try to coerce them into joining me." KW high jump coach Bryan Coventry.

"I gotta go do long jump now," he said, alerting the judges that he'd be back later to jump in a vertical fashion.

Jensen said the conditioning demanded during basketball translates well to track and field, while Nolan, who regularly jumps off two feet when playing basketball, has to adjust to leaping off one foot when competing in the high jump.

Regardless of technique, Coventry said this year's high jump event at the state meet stacks up as one of the most competitive in years. And the abundance of talented leapers from the basketball ranks contributes considerably to the amount of depth.

Jensen, an all state basketball player who averaged 16.1 points per game in Class 1A for the Rattlers, has already pre qualified for May's state track and field meet, as have Kelly Walsh's Marcus Nolan, Natrona County's Robert Creager and numerous other basketball players around the state.

Kelly Walsh's Kooper Adams and Ethan Applegate, who along with Nolan competed in last year's state meet, are both 1 inch shy of the 6 foot 1 qualifying standard and each came close while navigating Friday's intermittent winds, though each fell short for at least one more meet.

There was no time for celebration.

"After seeing some results and watching some competitions, I think the 4A boys high jump race is going to be one of the best events at the state meet this year," Coventry said. "There are several people over 6 feet, 6 2, 6 3 and higher, and I think it's going to be just about as exciting to see who's going to come Air Max Thea Print Cherry Blossom out on top as it ever has been."

"You just need to think about it a little more," said Nolan, who didn't compete Friday for breaking a team rule. "I think basketball really helps out a lot because you're jumping every day in basketball."